Heated handle for sporting equipment

ABSTRACT

A heated sports handle for paddles or racquets for use in cold environments. The handle includes a thermoelectric wrap and a power module. The power module can regulate its output to provide sufficient energy to warm the hand of a user of the paddle. The handle includes a housing to provide structural integrity and a filler material to provide shock absorption for the power module during play. A temperature setting of the handle may be adjustable. The power module may be rechargeable, including optionally by wireless means. The handle is configured for communication with a smartphone or similar device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationU.S. Ser. No. 62/827,749 filed on Apr. 1, 2019 which is incorporated byreference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates to the field of sports equipment, particularlysports equipment handles for playing sports in cold environments.

2. Description of the Related Art

Sports equipment used in connection with racquet sports, paddle sports,and related sports commonly comes with a handle by which a user of theequipment may maintain a firm grip during play. Many sports requiringsuch equipment can be played indoors or outdoors. For those normallyplayed outdoors, such as platform tennis, the outdoor environments canbe highly variable, especially across a range of temperatures. It is notuncommon, for example, for platform tennis to be played for severalhours outdoors in temperatures well below freezing. Since dexterity of auser's fingers is often affected by temperature, it is common in suchcold environments for players to wear clothing on their hands, such asgloves or mittens, to keep their hands warm during play.

A shortcoming of handwear used in racquet sports is that control of thesports equipment may be reduced (i.e., because the user's hand ispadded) and thus player performance can be adversely affected. Anothershortcoming is that the sensation of a ball or other object intended tointeract with the sports equipment may be dulled, preventing the playerfrom receiving the feedback required for optimum competitive play.

Yet another deficiency of current sports equipment, particularly withplatform tennis paddles, is that without handwear, the user's hand maybecome cold and consequently lose dexterity under cold playingconditions. Cramped fingers and a clumsy grip on the sports equipmenthandle may result in inaccurate use of the sports equipment and/oraccidental loss of control, which may result in poor performance orinjury.

What is needed in the art is a handle with a heat source that can warmthe player's hand during play in cold conditions, endure the impacts ofthe sport, and enhance player performance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In certain aspects, the present disclosure is related to sportsequipment, especially sports equipment handles for playing sports incold environments, particularly platform tennis.

One embodiment according to the present disclosure includes a sportsapparatus comprising a handle portion, the handle portion including: ahousing; a thermoelectric fabric wrapped at least partially around thehousing; a chamber within the housing; a power module configured to fitwithin the chamber and in electrical communication with thethermoelectric fabric; a frame portion connected to the handle portion;and a face portion connected to the frame portion. The handle portionmay include a filler material between the housing and the chamber. Thefiller material may be made of polyurethane foam. The power module mayinclude a battery that may be rechargeable. The power module may includeelectrical contacts for recharging the power module. The thermoelectricfabric may be a conductive metal yarn.

Another embodiment according to the present disclosure includes anapparatus including a handle portion configured to be mated to a frameportion of a paddle, the handle portion including a housing; athermoelectric fabric wrapped at least partially around the housing; achamber within the housing; and a power module configured to fit withinthe chamber and be in electrical communication with the thermoelectricfabric. The handle portion may include a filler material between thehousing and the chamber. The filler material may be made of polyurethanefoam. The power module may include a battery. The battery may berechargeable. The power module may include electrical contacts forrecharging the power module. The thermoelectric fabric may be aconductive metal yarn.

Examples of the more important features of the disclosure have beensummarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that thecontributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There are,of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be describedhereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appendedhereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present disclosure can be obtained withthe following detailed descriptions of the various disclosed embodimentsin the drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thusare not limiting to the present disclosure, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a diagram of a heated paddle according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a diagram of the heated paddle of FIG. 1A showing an interiorchamber for housing a power module;

FIG. 1C is a diagram of the heated paddle of FIG. 1A showing athermoelectric wrap around the handle;

FIG. 2 is a 3-dimensional diagram of a heated paddle handle and itsremovable power module according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a 3-dimensional diagram of the heated paddle handle of FIG. 2with wiring and connectors for the thermoelectric wrap; and

FIG. 4 is a 3-dimensional diagram of the heated paddle handle of FIG. 2with an alternative wiring arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In several aspects, the present disclosure is related to sportsequipment. Specifically, the present disclosure is related to heatingthe handles of racquets and paddles for outdoor sports, includingplatform tennis.

The present invention is susceptible to embodiments of different forms.There are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail,specific embodiments with the understanding that the present inventionis to be considered an exemplification of the principles and is notintended to limit the present invention to that illustrated anddescribed herein.

FIGS. 1A-1C show diagrams of a hand-held piece of sports equipment 100,such as a platform tennis paddle, with a heated handle. The paddle 100includes a handle portion 110, a frame portion 120, and a face portion130. The frame portion 120 and face portion 130 are only partiallyshown; however, these portions may vary from sport to sport and becomposed of any shape, weight, or material that is required to complywith the rules of the corresponding sport. Depending on the sport, theface portion 130 may be strung (i.e., for tennis), perforated (i.e., forplatform tennis), or solid (i.e., for table tennis).

The face portion 130, if perforated or solid, may be made of ahomogeneous material or made of a first material core and a secondmaterial outer layer. In some embodiments, the handle portion 110, theframe portion 120, and the face portion 130 may all be made of the samematerial and/or may be of a unitary construction. In other embodiments,the handle portion 110, the frame portion 120, and the face portion 130may all be made of different materials.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle portion110 is preferably wrapped in a thermoelectric fabric 160 that isconfigured to convert electrical energy into heat to warm the hand of auser holding the handle 110. Suitable thermoelectric fabrics mayinclude, but are not limited to, conductive metal yarn.

FIG. 1B shows another diagram of the paddle 100, further comprising ahidden chamber 140 for housing a power module 190 (see FIG. 2). Thehandle portion 110 may optionally include a cover or end cap 150 forsealing the chamber 140 to prevent moisture from entering therein and/orto prevent the power module 190 from falling out of the chamber 140. Theend cap 150 may be secured to the handle 110 by an adhesive, fastener,or both.

FIG. 1C shows a diagram of the handle portion 110 with thethermoelectric fabric 160 partially unwrapped. The underlying handlesurface 170 is adjacent to a wrapped portion 180. The thermoelectricfabric 160 can be wrapped one or more times around the handle portion110. In some embodiments, the wrapped portion 180 may not fullyencompass the underlying handle surface 170. Not shown is a grip thatmay wrapped over the portion 180, wherein the grip will come in directcontact with the hand of a user.

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional drawing of a power module 190 beinginserted into the chamber 140 in the handle portion 110. The powermodule 190 may include a battery either commonly commercially availableor custom designed to fit in the chamber 140. The battery may berechargeable or nonchargeable. The power module 190 may include a powerregulator, such as an integrated circuit chip, to control the amount ofpower to the thermoelectric fabric 160. The power module 190 may includea temperature sensor to control the temperature of the handle portion110. The temperature of the handle portion 110 may be adjustable using auser interface or similar device. The power module 190 may include aswitching circuit for turning the power on/off. In some embodiments, theswitching circuit may be on the exterior of the handle portion 110.

As discussed, the handle portion 110 preferably includes a housing 115and the chamber 140. The housing 115 may be made of a suitable racquetor paddle material, such as carbon fiber, fiber glass, composite,graphite, or wood (depending on the sport). The chamber 140 may besurrounded by a filler material 185. In some embodiments, the chamber140 is formed by a gap in the filler material 185. The filler material185 may secure the power module 190 to prevent movement and stress onelectric wires when the paddle 100 is in use. The filler material 185may also dampen vibration and/or act as a shock absorber to protect thepower module 190 from being damaged. The filler material 185 may be madeof polyurethane foam. The use of polyurethane foam is illustrative andexemplary only, as other materials may be used that are shock absorbingand not electrically conductive.

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional diagram of one embodiment of the handleportion 110 with the power module 190. Electrical power wires 310 mayextend from the thermoelectric fabric 180 through the housing 115 andfiller material 185 to a connector 320 that is configured to mate with acorresponding connector 330 on the power module 190.

FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional diagram of another embodiment of thehandle portion 110 with the power module 190. The top handle end of thepower module 190 includes power connectors 410 for plugging into acorresponding set of connectors (not shown) inside the handle portion110 accessible within the chamber 140. In some embodiments, the powermodule 190 may include features of FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the powerconnectors 410 are used to power the thermoelectric fabric 180 and thepower connectors 330 are used to recharge the power module 190.

It is also contemplated that the power module 190 may be chargedwirelessly and controlled (i.e., status checked, temperature controlled,etc.) using a smartphone or similar device. It is further contemplatedthat paddle 100 may comprise a user interface for observing a statusand/or changing a setting of the power module 190 and a temperature ofthe handle 110.

While embodiments in the present disclosure have been described in somedetail, according to the preferred embodiments illustrated above, suchare not meant to be limiting to modifications such as would be obviousto those skilled in the art.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the disclosure areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the detailsof the illustrated apparatus and system, and the construction and themethod of operation may be made without departing from the spirit of thedisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sports apparatus comprising: a handle portion,comprising: a housing; a thermoelectric fabric wrapped at leastpartially around the housing; a chamber within the housing; and a powermodule configured to fit within the chamber and in electricalcommunication with the thermoelectric fabric; a frame portion connectedto the handle portion; and a face portion connected to the frameportion.
 2. The sports apparatus of claim 1, wherein handle portioncomprises a filler material between the housing and the chamber.
 3. Thesports apparatus of claim 2, wherein the filler material is made ofpolyurethane foam.
 4. The sports apparatus of claim 1, wherein the powermodule includes a battery.
 5. The sports apparatus of claim 4, whereinbattery is rechargeable.
 6. The sports apparatus of claim 5, wherein thepower module includes electrical contacts for recharging the powermodule. The sports apparatus of claim 5, wherein the power module iswirelessly rechargeable.
 8. The sports apparatus of claim 1, wherein thethermoelectric fabric is a conductive metal yarn.
 9. The sportsapparatus of claim 1, the handle portion further comprising anadjustable temperature setting.
 10. The sports apparatus of claim 1,wherein the power module is remotely controllable using a smartphone.11. A sports apparatus comprising: a handle portion configured to bemated to a frame portion of a paddle, the handle portion comprising: ahousing; a thermoelectric fabric wrapped at least partially around thehousing; a chamber within the housing; and a power module configured tofit within the chamber and in electrical communication with thethermoelectric fabric.
 12. The sports apparatus of claim 11, whereinhandle portion comprises a filler material between the housing and thechamber.
 13. The sports apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fillermaterial is made of polyurethane foam.
 14. The sports apparatus of claim11, wherein the power module includes a battery.
 15. The sportsapparatus of claim 14, wherein battery is rechargeable.
 16. The sportsapparatus of claim 15, wherein the battery is wirelessly rechargeable.17. The sports apparatus of claim 15, wherein the power module includeselectrical contacts for recharging the power module.
 18. The sportsapparatus of claim 11, wherein the thermoelectric fabric is a conductivemetal yarn.
 19. The sports apparatus of claim 11, the handle portionfurther comprising an adjustable temperature setting.
 20. The sportsapparatus of claim 11, wherein the power module is remotely controllableusing a smartphone.